Sponge-cup.



No. 771,546. v: PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904.

I T. -L. HARDING & H. E. HEAL.

SPONGE CUP.

APPLICATION FILED FEBJQ, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

2 mglggnd nd LL 3:

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE L. HARDING AND HARRY E. HEAL, OF NETV YORK, N. Y.

SPONGE-CUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,546, dated October4, 1904.

Application filed February 19, 1904. Serial No. 194:,i12. (N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, THEODORE L. HARD- ING and HARRY E. HEAL, citizensof the United States, and residents of New York city, in the county ofNew York and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Sponge-Cups, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in sponge-cups, a well-knownarticle for holding a moistened sponge. They are much used by bankersand others for moistening the tip of the fingers when counting papermoney and for other similar purposes, the construction and operation ofwhich is hereinafter fully described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of thecup, the neck or band around the opening grasping the sponge, and apermanently-attached cover for the same. Fig. 2is a centralcrosssection' of Fig. 1, showing the sides of the cup, the position ofthe sponge suspended above the bottom of the cup, the reservoir, and therelative thickness of the 'material.

The difierent parts are designated as A, cup; S, sponge; C, cover; R,reservoir; Gr, band; B, base, and H, hinge.

Our improvement consists in constructing a sponge-cup of vulcanizedrubber or of other elastic or flexible material in a manner by which thesponge or a substitute therefor may be tightly held in the opening tothe cup and there suspended, as shown in Fig. 2, or retained in acentral position when resting upon the bottom of the cup. It furtherconsists in enlarging the lower part of the body of the cup, so as toform a reservoir for retaining water and to admit of the cup and spongebeing depressed or laterally compressed at pleasure; also, of a cover ofsuitable material permanently attached to the cup, all as and for thepurposes shown and hereinafter described.

Heretofore sponge cups have been constructed of glass and other hardmaterial and necessarily in a form to only loosely retain the sponge andwithout any means for retaining water'with which to remoisten the spongeindefinitely. Thus constructed they are unwieldy, clumsy, and the spongehas to be frequently and at much incovenience supplied with water.Besides, they are never provided with covers to parry dust and preventevaporation.

Our invention obviates these objections. To this end we construct thesponge-cup of vulcanized rubber or it may be of any suitable elasticsubstitute therefor, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, in which theopening is drawn in toward the center of the cup, the edge of theopening being strengthened by thickening or forming a band integralaround it, the body being expanded outwardly from the opening down tothe base, thus forming the reservoir B, Fig. 2. The baseBis thicker thanthe sides of the cup. The object is to keep the cup expanded properly.

The cover G is permanently attached to the cup by an elastic hinge, forwhich purpose a metal hinge may be substituted, if desired. The cupbeing constructed of elastic material, substantially as shown anddescribed, its operation is as follows: The sponge is cut to suitableshape and a little larger than the contracted opening in the cup. Thenit may be by stretching the band G placed within the opening, where itwill be firmly held by the contracting band.

To fill the reservoir R, compress the body of the cup laterally. Whilethus compressed immerse the sponge in water. While in this positionrelease the pressure. Then the reexpansion of the cup will draw thewater through the sponge. This operation being repeated, by lesseningthe pressure each time will soon fill the vacuum which constitutes thereservoir, or the reservoir may be filled by removing the sponge. Ifdesired, the water may be completely forced out of the cup through thesponge by repeatedly compressing the cup. The sponge may be or not of amuch less depth than shown in the cup. (See Fig. 2, S.) In either casethe sponge may be quickly moistened, if dry, while there is water in thereservoir by depressing the cup. It is now ready for moistening thefingers, gummed stamps, &c. y

The cover C is an important adjunct. It serves to protect the spongefrom dust and to prevent evaporation when the device is not in use...The cover may be made integral or of metal or other material.

We believe that our elastic sponge-cup has many advantages over allothers of which we have knowledge. It is simple and cheap ofconstruction, practical, durable, economical, and being made of softmaterial it is pleasant to handle. It will not mar the smoothestsurface. The cup and cover may be of any suitable size or shape, plainor artistically ornamental.

What We claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An elastic sponge-cup made of rubber, said cup having an opening atits top to receive a sponge, said opening being of a smaller York andState of New York, this 14th day' of December, A. D. 1903.

THEODORE L. HARDING. HARRY E. HEAL. WVitnesses:

T. SHERMAN HARDING, W ILLIAM EWALD.

